Chapter 13

Julian's hands shook as he stared at the society page on his iPad, his morning coffee growing cold in Margaret's guest room. The Egyptian cotton sheets felt foreign against his skin, nothing like his old apartment's bargain linens. Sunlight streamed through floor-to-ceiling windows, painting golden patterns across the marble floors, but he barely noticed the luxury surrounding him. The headline hit him like a punch: "Miami's Power Couple: Maxwell Jenkins and Chloe Martinez's Whirlwind Romance" The article sprawled across his screen, a digital dagger to his heart. Photos showed them at the Ocean Drive charity gala - Chloe radiant in a red Versace gown he could never have afforded, Maxwell's hand possessively at her waist. Her smile, the one that used to greet him every morning, now beamed up at Jenkins with unmistakable adoration. The society columnist gushed about their "instant chemistry" and "shared vision for Miami's future." Each word twisted deeper into his gut. More images